Document Processing Apparatus Component, Document Processing Apparatus Assembly and Method for Operating the Same

ABSTRACT

A component is disclosed. The component includes a base member having an upper surface and a lower surface and a substantially tubular member attached to and extending away from the upper surface of the base member. The substantially tubular member includes a body formed by an outer surface, an inner surface, an upper lip surface connecting the outer surface to the inner surface and a document landing surface. The body includes a thickness (T) extending between the outer surface and the inner surface. The document landing surface is connected to the inner surface. The inner surface and the document landing surface define a cavity extending through a portion of a length (L) of the body. An assembly is also disclosed.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The disclosure relates to a document processing apparatus component,document processing apparatus assembly and a method for operating thesame.

BACKGROUND

Document processing machines are known in the art. Although knowndocument processing machines perform adequately for their intended use,improvements are nevertheless continuously being sought in order toadvance the art.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The disclosure will now be described, by way of example, with referenceto the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIGS. 1A-1G illustrate views of an exemplary document processingapparatus component.

FIG. 1H illustrates an exploded view of an exemplary document processingapparatus assembly including the component of FIGS. 1A-1G.

FIG. 1I illustrates an exploded view of an exemplary document processingapparatus assembly including the component of FIGS. 1A-1G.

FIGS. 2A-2G illustrate views of an exemplary document processingapparatus component.

FIG. 2H illustrates an exploded view of an exemplary document processingapparatus assembly including the component of FIGS. 2A-2G.

FIG. 2I illustrates an exploded view of an exemplary document processingapparatus assembly including the component of FIGS. 2A-2G.

FIGS. 3A-3G illustrate views of an exemplary document processingapparatus component.

FIG. 3H illustrates an exploded view of an exemplary document processingapparatus assembly including the component of FIGS. 3A-3G.

FIG. 3I illustrates an exploded view of an exemplary document processingapparatus assembly including the component of FIGS. 3A-3G.

FIGS. 4A-4G illustrate views of an exemplary document processingapparatus component.

FIG. 4H illustrates an exploded view of an exemplary document processingapparatus assembly including the component of FIGS. 4A-4G.

FIG. 4I illustrates an exploded view of an exemplary document processingapparatus assembly including the component of FIGS. 4A-4G.

FIG. 5 illustrates a document processing apparatus and a document to beprocessed by the document processing apparatus.

FIGS. 6A-6C illustrate views of an exemplary document catch memberconnected to a document processing apparatus.

FIGS. 7A-7B illustrate views of an exemplary document catch memberconnected to a document processing apparatus.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The figures illustrate an exemplary implementation of a documentprocessing apparatus component, document processing apparatus assemblyand a method for operating the same. Based on the foregoing, it is to begenerally understood that the nomenclature used herein is simply forconvenience and the terms used to describe the invention should be giventhe broadest meaning by one of ordinary skill in the art.

FIG. 5 illustrates an exemplary implementation of an apparatus 1 thatprocesses at least one document, D. Accordingly, in an implementation,the apparatus 1 may be referred to as a “document processor.” In animplementation, the at least one document, D, may include, but is notlimited to, at least one financial/payment document (e.g., at least onecheck, an elongated sheet of paper, such as, for example, register tape)or the like.

The processing of the at least one document, D, that is conducted by thedocument processor 1 may include the recording of and/or an analysis ofone or more characteristics associated with one or more of a frontsurface, D_(F), of the at least one document, D, and a rear surface,D_(R), of the at least one document, D. In an implementation, thedocument processor 1 includes electronics (not shown) that may include,but is not limited to, one or more document processing applicationfunctions such as, for example: (1) imaging of one or more of the frontand rear surfaces, D_(F), D_(R), of the at least one document, D, forrecording an image of symbols and/or written indicia and/or printedindicia disposed upon one or more of the front and rear surfaces, D_(F),D_(R), of the at least one document, D, (2) converting the imagedsymbols and/or written indicia and/or printed indicia upon one or moreof the front and rear surfaces, D_(F), D_(R), of the document, D, intoelectronic form by way of, for example, optical character recognition(OCR) software, (3) magnetic ink character recognition (MICR) readingfor magnetically identifying characters that are printed upon one ormore of the front and rear surfaces, D_(F), D_(R), of the document, D,with magnetic ink (4) endorsing, (5) bar code reading, (6) biometricreading and the like.

In an implementation, the document processor 1 may include acommunication interface that permits the document processor 1 to:receive commands from an operator and/or send processed documentinformation to: a computer, C, database or the like. In an embodiment,the communication interface may permit wireless communication, W, orhardwired communication, H, to, for example, the computer, C, databaseor the like, by way of, for example, WiFi connection, an Ethernetconnection, a Universal Serial Bus (USB) connection or the like.

In an implementation, the document processor 1 includes an outerprotective shell 2. The outer protective shell 2 issupportably-connected to a baseplate (not shown) that supports theelectronics and one or more mechanical components (not shown) thatcontribute to the processing of the at least one document, D, which mayinclude the movement of the at least one document, D, along a documentpath such that the at least one document, D, may be transported throughthe document processor 1. The outer protective shell 2 and baseplate mayinclude any desirable material such as, for example, plastic, metal orthe like.

One or more of the outer protective shell 2 and the baseplate maycooperate to form a first pocket portion 3 and a second pocket portion4. In an embodiment, the first pocket portion 3 may be referred to as an“input hopper” for receiving at least one un-processed document and inan embodiment, the second pocket portion 4 may be referred to as an“output bin” for receiving/storing at least one processed document.

The nomenclature associated with the “at least one un-processeddocument” and the “at least one processed document” may be dependentupon (1) the location of the at least one document, D, relative to thestructure of the document processor 1 and (2) the un/successfulperformance of the one or more processing application functions appliedto the at least one document, D, as the at least one document, D, ismoved along the document path. For example, when the at least onedocument, D, is located/disposed within the input hopper 3, the at leastone document, D, may be referred to as the “at least one un-processeddocument;” subsequently, when the at least one un-processed document is(1) drawn out of/moved from the input hopper 3, then (2) passed throughthe document processor 1 along the document path in order to attempt toperform the one or more document processing application functions andthen (3) deposited into the output bin 4, the at least one un-processeddocument may then be referred to as the “at least one processeddocument.”

Referring to FIGS. 1A-1G, a component is shown generally at 10.Referring to FIG. 1H, the component 10 is attachable to the documentprocessor 1. Referring to FIG. 1I a document processing apparatusassembly 75 includes the component 10 attached to the document processor1.

Referring to FIGS. 1H-1I, a document, D, is shown being interfaced withat least the component 10. The document, D, may include, for example,register tape; register tape, D, may include a dimension ranging betweenapproximately about 2-to-3 inches in width and 120-to-180 inches (i.e.,10-to-15 feet) in length. Although register tape, D, is shown in theFigures, register tape, D, is an exemplary implementation of a documentto be processed by the document processor 1; accordingly, the inventionmay be practiced with any desirable document, D, having any dimension,and, therefore, is not limited to being practiced with register tape, D.

In some circumstances, register tape, D, may be fabricated from arelatively thin paper stock material (i.e., the thickness of theregister tape, D, is minimized in order to maximize a length of theregister tape, D, when stowed in rolled form thereby forming a “packageddiameter” when transported, for example, from a register tapemanufacturer to an office supply store, end user or the like. Inaddition to a reduced thickness, register tape, D, is typicallycharacterized to include a very low quality of paper stock material whencompared to other known paper stock materials (i.e., register tape, D,may be defined to: be light in weight, have a low tensile strength, havea low rigidity, have no predominant grain direction, have anuncontrolled coefficient of friction and the like).

Because the register tape, D, may be utilized in conjunction with, forexample, an adding machine, the adding machine may print, for example,indicia, I (see FIG. 5), upon the front surface, D_(F), of registertape, D. The document processor 1 may process (e.g.,scan/image/photograph the front surface, D_(F), of the register tape, D)in order to capture (e.g., electronically save in the form of data) oneor more features (e.g., the printed indicia, I) associated with theregister tape, D. Accordingly, the document processor 1 may be utilized,as seen in FIG. 5, to process the register tape, D, in any desirablemanner.

Because of one or more of the above-identified characteristics/qualityof paper stock material associated with the register tape, D, in somecircumstances, processing of the register tape, D, by the documentprocessor 1 may be prone to failure. An exemplary failure incident mayoccur if, for example, the low rigidity of the register tape, D, resultsin the register tape, D, “crumbling upon itself” or being physicallydamaged by the document processor 1 (e.g., the register tape, D, may beundesirably torn proximate the input hopper 3 as the register tape, D,is advanced from the input hopper 3 and through the document processor 1along the document path).

Accordingly, in order to overcome potential of a processing failureincident, as seen in FIG. 1I, the register tape, D, may be interfacedwith the component 10 proximate the input hopper 3 at least prior tobeing interfaced with (or processed by) the document processor 1.Functionally, the component 10 may: (1) support the register tape, D, atleast proximate the input hopper 3 before/during interfacing of theregister tape, D, with the document processor 1, (2) align the registertape, D, with the input hopper 3 before/during interfacing of theregister tape, D, with the document processor 1, and (3) contribute to acreation of a vertical stiffness of the register tape, D, at leastproximate the input hopper 3 before/during interfacing of the registertape, D, with the document processor 1. Thus, the register tape, D, maybe less prone to being physically misaligned, deformed or damagedbefore/during feeding of the register tape, D, through the documentprocessor 1 along the document path; as a result, the component 10 mayimprove/maintain feeding reliability of the register tape, D, in orderto improve/maintain, for example, processing (e.g., imaging/capturing ofthe indicia, I) of the register tape, D.

Referring to FIG. 1A, the component 10 is shown according to anembodiment. The component 10 may include a unitary, one-piece body thatis formed from any desirable material (e.g., a synthetic resin, metal orthe like). The component 10 may be formed, for example, in an injectionmolding procedure by injecting a plastic material into a mold tool (notshown).

The component 10 may include a base member 12 having an upper surface 12a and a lower surface 12 b. A substantially tubular member 14 isattached to and extends away from the upper surface 12 a of the basemember 12. An attachment member 16 is attached to and extends away fromthe upper surface 12 a of the base member 12. A rigidifying member 18(see, e.g., FIG. 1G but also FIGS. 1C-1F) is attached to and extendsaway from the lower surface 12 b of the base member 12.

The attachment member 16 may include a body 16 a and one or more ribs 16b. The body 16 a may include a substantially rectangular portion 16 a′and a rounded portion 16 a″. The one or more ribs 16 b extend away froma side surface 16 c of the body 16 a. The one or more ribs 16 b mayinclude an upper surface 16 b′ that is co-planar with an upper surface16 d of the body 16 a.

The body 16 a and the one or more ribs 16 b may extend away from theupper surface 12 a of the base member 12. One or more fastener passages16 e may be formed in the upper surface 16 d of the body 16 a in orderto permit one or more fasteners, F (see FIG. 1H, to extend through thebase member 12 from the lower surface 12 b, past a plane defined by theupper surface 12 a and beyond the upper surface 16 d of the body 16 a.The body 16 a and the one or more ribs 16 b may define a “male portion”that interfaces with a “female portion” (not shown) formed by anunderside surface 5 (see FIGS. 1H, 5) of a base member portion 6 of thedocument processor 1 of the document processor 1; the base memberportion 6 of the document processor 1 may form one or more of the inputhopper 3 and the output bin 4; the fasteners, F, may extend through theone or more fastener passages 16 e for attaching the component 10 tobase member portion 6 of the document processor 1 to form the assembly75 (see, e.g., FIG. 1I).

Although one or more fasteners, F, may extend through one or morefastener passages 16 e for attaching the component 10 to the documentprocessor 1 for forming the assembly 75, attachment means other than oneor more of the fasteners, F, may be utilized. For example, theattachment means may include any suitable attachment species for joiningthe component 10 to the document processor 1 such as, for example: glue,tape, one or more rivets, bolts or the like. In another embodiment, theattachment means may include a mechanical connection such as asnap-in-place or slide-in-place arrangement extending from/formed in thecomponent that interfaces with the base member portion 6 of the documentprocessor 1 that may easily permit a user to selectively attach/removethe component 10 with the document processor 1 without using fasteners,F, glue, tape, one or more rivets, bolts or the like.

Referring to FIG. 1G, the rigidifying member 18 may include a body 18 athat extends away from lower surface 12 b of the base member 12. Thebody 18 a may include a plurality of perpendicularly-arranged ribs 18 band one or more arcuate-shaped ribs 18 c. One or more of the ribs 18 b,18 c may be arranged in an opposing relationship with and correspond tothe dimension of the substantially rectangular portion 16 a′ and arounded, head portion 16 a″ of the body 16 a of the attachment member 16that are arranged upon the upper surface 12 a of the base member 12.

Referring to FIG. 1A, the substantially tubular member 14 may include abody 20 formed by an outer surface 14 a, an inner surface 14 b, an upperlip surface 14 c and a document landing surface 14 d (see FIG. 1B). Theupper lip surface 14 c connects the outer surface 14 a to the innersurface 14 b. The upper lip surface 14 c may define a thickness, T, ofthe body 20.

The inner surface 14 b and the document landing surface 14 d may definea cavity 22 extending through a portion of a length, L (see FIGS.1C-1F), of the body 20 (noting that the length, L, is a dimension thatextends between approximately about the upper surface 12 a of the basemember 12 and the upper lip surface 14 c). Functionally, the cavity 22may stow the register tape, D, when the register tape, D, is interfacedwith the component 10.

The cavity 22 may include a length, L_(c) (see FIG. 1C), that extendsfrom approximately about the upper lip surface 14 c and terminate at thedocument landing surface 14 d; the document landing surface 14 d may beelevated away from the upper surface 12 a of the base member 12 (seeFIG. 1C) at a height, H. Accordingly; as a result of the spaced-apartrelationship of the document landing surface 14 d with respect to theupper surface 12 a of the base member 12 at the height, H, the documentlanding surface 14 d may be said to be in a non-co-planar relationshipwith the upper surface 12 a of the base member 12, and, the cavity 22may not extend along the length, L, of the body 20 (i.e., the length, L,of the cavity 22 may be calculated by L_(C)=L−H).

When the component 10 is attached to the document processor 1, the uppersurface 12 a of the base member 12 may be disposed substantiallyadjacent the underside surface 5 of a base member portion 6 of thedocument processor 1. Further, when the component 10 is attached to thedocument processor 1, the document landing surface 14 d may besubstantially co-planar with an upper surface 7 (see FIGS. 1H, 1I and 5)of the base member portion 6 of the document processor 1. Accordingly,the height, H, may be approximately equal to a thickness of the basemember portion 6 of the document processor 1.

Access to the cavity 22 is permitted by way of at least one passage 24including an upper opening 24 a and a side slit 24 b. The upper opening24 a is formed by the connection of the upper lip surface 14 c and theinner surface 14 b of the body 20. The register tape, D, may be insertedinto the cavity 22 by way of the upper opening 24 a (see dashed line inFIG. 1H).

The side slit 24 b is formed in the thickness, T, of the body 20. Asseen in FIG. 1C, formation of the side slit 24 b in the body 20 permitsthe document landing surface 14 d to be in direct communication with theouter surface 14 a; further, as seen in FIG. 1A, the outer surface 14 ais in direct communication with the upper surface 12 a of the basemember 12. The register tape, D, may exit the cavity 22 by way of theside slit 24 b.

Referring to FIG. 1B, approximately about ninety-percent of the innersurface 14 b forms the cavity 22 to include a substantially circulardimension (with a remainder of approximately about ten-percent of thecircular dimension not included due to the formation of/the location ofthe side slit 24 b); however, approximately about ten-percent of theinner surface 14 b of the body 20 diverges (from a closed-loopsubstantially circular dimension/orientation) in opposing directions inorder to cause the body 20 to “open up” and form the side slit 24 b.Accordingly, as seen in FIG. 1B, the inner surface 14 b of the body 20may be said to “arcuately flare” in a first direction to form a firstarcuate portion 26 a and in a second direction (that flares in anopposite direction with respect to the first direction) to form a secondarcuate portion 26 b; according to a frame of reference established bythe view of FIG. 1B, the first arcuate portion 26 a may be said to flarein opposite directions, such as, for example, a “concave up” orientationwhereas the second arcuate portion 26 b may be said to flare in a“concave down” orientation.

As seen in FIG. 1B, the first arcuate portion 26 a may flare in a mannerthat leads to a formation of a flange 28 that is connected to the body20 by way of the first arcuate portion 26 a. The flange 28 includes acurved portion 28 a and a substantially linear portion 28 b that isconnected to the curved portion 28 a. The curved portion 28 a isconnected to and extends away from the first arcuate portion 26 a; thecurved portion 28 a and the first arcuate portion 26 a may contribute tothe formation of a rounded head portion 30. Referring to FIG. 1C, theflange 28 extends along a length, L_(F), which may be less than thelength, L, of the body 20. The length, L_(F), of the flange 28 mayextend between approximately about the upper lip surface 14 c and thedocument landing surface 14 d.

As seen in FIG. 1B, the second arcuate portion 26 b may flare in amanner that forms an elongated, tear-drop shaped stiffening rib 32 thatis connected to the body 20. The elongated, tear-drop shaped stiffeningrib 32 includes a curved portion 34 a, a substantially linear portion 34b, the second arcuate portion 26 b and a portion of the body 20. Thecurved portion 34 a is connected to and extends away from the secondarcuate portion 26 b. The linear portion 34 b is connected to the curvedportion 34 a at a first end 34 b′ and is connected to and extendssubstantially tangentially from the outer surface 14 a of thesubstantially tubular member 14 at a second end 34 b″. The curvedportion 34 a and the second arcuate portion 26 b may contribute to theformation of a rounded head portion 36. Referring to FIG. 1C, theelongated, tear-drop shaped stiffening rib 32 extends along the length,L, of the body 20 between the upper lip surface 14 c and the uppersurface 12 a of the base member 12.

As seen in FIG. 1I but referring also to FIGS. 1A-1G, after attachingthe component 10 to the document processor 1, a user (not shown) maydeposit a length of register tape, D (which may be collapsed upon itselfin rolled form), within the cavity 20 of the component 10 by way of theupper opening 24 a. Prior to, during or after the depositing step, auser may grasp an end portion, D_(E) (see FIG. 5) of a length of theregister tape, D, and, guide/align the end portion of the length ofregister tape, D, through/within the side slit 24 b. The user may thenmanually guide the end portion of the length of register tape, D, to anorientation within the input hopper 3 and thereafter actuate thedocument processor 1 such that the document processor 1 begins to pullthe register tape, D, through the document processor 1 along thedocument path. Once the document processor 1 begins to pull the registertape, D, in order to move the register tape, D, along the document path,the register tape, D, is unfurled from its stowed (e.g., rolled)orientation within the cavity 20 of the component 10.

As the register tape, D, is pulled through the document processor 1along the document path, the register tape, D, may be pulled adjacentand be biased against at least the curved portion 28 a of the flange 28as the register tape, D, is unfurled within the cavity 22 such that avertical stiffness may be imparted to the register tape, D, about atleast the curved portion 28 a of the flange 28. Further, thesubstantially linear portion 28 b may guide the register tape, D, intothe input hopper 3 in a substantially linear direction. Yet evenfurther, the cavity 20 may maintain an unprocessed portion of the lengthof the register tape, D, if arranged in a rolled orientation, in asubstantially upright position.

Accordingly, the component 10 may controllably-maintain an uprightorientation of the register tape, D, while also creating the potentialof an imparted vertical stiffness to the register tape, D, as a resultof the document processor 1 “pulling”/“tugging” the register tape at afirst end while the second end is arranged within the cavity 22 in aupright orientation. Further, the component 10 may also substantiallylinearly-guide the register tape, D, to a feeding position within theinput hopper 3 along the flange 28. Thus, the register tape, D, may beless prone to being physically misaligned, deformed or damagedbefore/during feeding of the register tape, D, through the documentprocessor 1 along the document path; as a result, the component 10 mayimprove/maintain feeding reliability of the register tape, D, in orderto improve/maintain, for example, processing (e.g., imaging/capturing ofthe indicia, I) of the register tape, D.

Referring to FIG. 2A, a component 100 is shown according to anembodiment. The component 100 may include a unitary, one-piece body thatis formed from any desirable material (e.g., a synthetic resin, metal orthe like). The component 100 may be formed, for example, in an injectionmolding procedure by injecting a plastic material into a mold tool (notshown).

The component 100 may include a base member 112 having an upper surface112 a and a lower surface 112 b. A substantially tubular member 114 isattached to and extends away from the upper surface 112 a of the basemember 112. An attachment member 116 is attached to and extends awayfrom the upper surface 112 a of the base member 112. A rigidifyingmember 118 (see, e.g., FIG. 2G but also FIGS. 2C-2F) is attached to andextends away from the lower surface 112 b of the base member 112.

The attachment member 116 may include a body 116 a and one or more ribs116 b. The body 116 a may include a substantially rectangular portion116 a′ and a rounded portion 116 a″. The one or more ribs 116 b extendaway from a side surface 116 c of the body 116 a. The one or more ribs116 b may include an upper surface 116 b′ that is co-planar with anupper surface 116 d of the body 116 a.

The body 116 a and the one or more ribs 116 b may extend away from theupper surface 112 a of the base member 112. One or more fastenerpassages 116 e may be formed in the upper surface 116 d of the body 116a in order to permit one or more fasteners, F (see FIG. 2H), to extendthrough the base member 112 from the lower surface 112 b, past a planedefined by the upper surface 112 a and beyond the upper surface 116 d ofthe body 116 a. The body 116 a and the one or more ribs 116 b may definea “male portion” that interfaces with a “female portion” (not shown)formed by an underside surface 5 of a base member portion 6 of thedocument processor 1 of the document processor 1; the base memberportion 6 of the document processor 1 may form one or more of the inputhopper 3 and the output bin 4; the fasteners may extend through the oneor more fastener passages 116 e for attaching the component 100 to basemember portion 6 of the document processor 1 to form an assembly 175(see, e.g., FIG. 2I).

Although one or more fasteners, F, may extend through one or morefastener passages 116 e for attaching the component 100 to the documentprocessor 1 for forming the assembly, attachment means other than one ormore of the fasteners, F, may be utilized. For example, the attachmentmeans may include any suitable attachment species for joining thecomponent 100 to the document processor 1 such as, for example: glue,tape, one or more rivets, bolts or the like. In another embodiment, theattachment means may include a mechanical connection such as asnap-in-place or slide-in-place arrangement extending from/formed in thecomponent that interfaces with the base member portion 6 of the documentprocessor 1 that may easily permit a user to selectively attach/removethe component 100 with the document processor 1 without using fasteners,F, glue, tape, one or more rivets, bolts or the like.

Referring to FIG. 2G, the rigidifying member 118 may include a body 118a that extends away from lower surface 112 b of the base member 112. Thebody 118 a may include a plurality of perpendicularly-arranged ribs 118b and one or more arcuate-shaped ribs 118 c. One or more of the ribs 118b, 118 c may be arranged in an opposing relationship with and correspondto the dimension of the substantially rectangular portion 116 a′ and arounded, head portion 116 a″ of the body 116 a of the attachment member116 that are arranged upon the upper surface 112 a of the base member112.

Referring to FIG. 2A, the substantially tubular member 114 may include abody 120 formed by an outer surface 114 a, an inner surface 114 b, anupper lip surface 114 c and a document landing surface 114 d (see FIG.2B). The upper lip surface 114 c connects the outer surface 114 a to theinner surface 114 b. The upper lip surface 114 c may define a thickness,T, of the body 120.

The document landing surface 114 d includes a first document landingsurface portion 114 d′ and a second document landing surface portion 114d″. The first document landing surface portion 114 d′ includes acircular surface area is substantially similar in dimension (i.e., thecircular surface area) to the document landing surface portion 14 d ofthe component 10 described above. The second document landing surfaceportion 114 d″ forms a narrow, elongated surface.

The inner surface 114 b and the first document landing surface portion114 d′ may define a cavity 122 extending through a portion of a length,L, of the body 120 (noting that the length, L, is a dimension thatextends between approximately about the upper surface 112 a of the basemember 112 and the upper lip surface 114 c). Functionally, the cavity122 may stow the register tape, D, when the register tape, D, isinterfaced with the component 100.

The cavity 122 may include a length, L_(c), that extends fromapproximately about the upper lip surface 114 c and terminate at thefirst document landing surface portion 114 d′; the first documentlanding surface portion 114 d′ may be elevated away from the uppersurface 112 a of the base member 112 (see FIG. 2C) at a height, H.Accordingly; as a result of the spaced-apart relationship of the firstdocument landing surface portion 114 d′ with respect to the uppersurface 112 a of the base member 112 at the height, H, the firstdocument landing surface portion 114 d′ may be said to be in anon-co-planar relationship with the upper surface 112 a of the basemember 112, and, the cavity 122 may not extend along the length, L, ofthe body 120 (i.e., the length, L, of the cavity 122 may be calculatedby L_(C)=L−H).

When the component 100 is attached to the document processor 1, theupper surface 112 a of the base member 112 may be disposed substantiallyadjacent the underside surface 5 of a base member portion 6 of thedocument processor 1. Further, when the component 100 is attached to thedocument processor 1, the first document landing surface portion 114 d′may be substantially co-planar with an upper surface 7 of the basemember portion 6 of the document processor 1. Accordingly, the height,H, may be approximately equal to a thickness of the base member portion6 of the document processor 1.

Access to the cavity 122 is permitted by way of at least one passage 124including an upper opening 124 a and a side slit 124 b. The upperopening 124 a is formed by the connection of the upper lip surface 114 cand the inner surface 114 b of the body 120. The register tape, D, maybe inserted into the cavity 122 by way of the upper opening 124 a.

Access to the cavity 122 may also be permitted by way of a side slit 124b formed in this thickness, T, in the body 120. Formation of the sideslit 124 b in the body 120 permits the first document landing surfaceportion 114 d′ to be in direct communication with the outer surface 114a; as seen in FIGS. 2A and 2C, the outer surface 114 a is in directcommunication with the upper surface 112 a of the base member 112. Theregister tape, D, may exit the cavity 122 by way of the side slit 124 b.

Referring to FIG. 2B, approximately about ninety-percent of the innersurface 114 b forms the cavity 120 to include a substantially circulardimension (with a remainder of approximately about ten-percent of thecircular dimension at the location of the side slit 124 b); however,approximately about ten-percent of the inner surface 114 b of the body120 diverges (from a closed-loop substantially circulardimension/orientation) in opposing directions in order to cause the body120 to “open up” and form the side slit 124 b. Accordingly, as seen inFIG. 2B, the inner surface 114 b of the body 120 may be said to“arcuately flare” in a first direction to form a first arcuate portion126 a and in a second direction (that flares in an opposite directionwith respect to the first direction) to form a second arcuate portion126 b; according to a frame of reference established by the view of FIG.2B, the first arcuate portion 126 a may be said to flare in a “concaveup” orientation whereas the second arcuate portion 126 b may be said toflare in a “concave down” orientation.

As seen in FIG. 2B, the first arcuate portion 126 a may flare in amanner that leads to a formation of a flange 128 that is connected tothe body 120 by way of the first arcuate portion 126 a. The flange 128includes a curved portion 128 a and a substantially linear portion 128 bthat is connected to the curved portion 128 a. The curved portion 128 ais connected to and extends away from the first arcuate portion 126 a;the curved portion 128 a and the first arcuate portion 126 a maycontribute to the formation of a rounded head portion 130. Referring toFIG. 2C, the flange 128 extends along a length, L_(F), which may be lessthan the length, L, of the body 120. The length, L_(F), of the flange128 may extend between approximately about the upper lip surface 114 cand the first document landing surface portion 114 d′.

As seen in FIG. 2B, the second arcuate portion 126 b may flare in amanner that forms an elongated, tear-drop shaped stiffening rib 132 thatis connected to the body 120. The elongated, tear-drop shaped stiffeningrib 132 includes a curved portion 134 a, a substantially linear portion134 b, the second arcuate portion 126 b and a portion of the body 120.The curved portion 134 a is connected to and extends away from thesecond arcuate portion 126 b. The linear portion 134 b is connected tothe curved portion 134 a at a first end 134 b′ and is connected to andextends substantially tangentially from the outer surface 114 a of thesubstantially tubular member 114 at a second end 134 b″. The curvedportion 134 a and the second arcuate portion 126 b may contribute to theformation of a rounded head portion 136. Referring to FIG. 2C, theelongated, tear-drop shaped stiffening rib 132 extends along the length,L, of the body 120 between the upper lip surface 114 c and the uppersurface 112 a of the base member 112.

Referring to FIG. 2B, the narrow, elongated surface formed by the seconddocument landing surface portion 114 d″ is enclosed by a first guideflange 138 and a second guide flange 140. The first guide flange 138extends substantially perpendicularly from and is connected to the uppersurface 112 a of the base member 112. The first guide flange 138 alsoextends tangentially from a portion of the outer surface 114 a of thesubstantially tubular member 114.

The second document landing surface portion 114 d″extends substantiallyperpendicularly from a sidewall surface 138′ of the first guide flange138. The second document landing surface portion 114 d″ is substantiallyco-planar with the first document landing surface portion 114 d′.

The second guide flange 140 extends substantially perpendicularly fromthe second document landing surface portion 114 d″. The second guideflange 140 includes a sidewall surface 140′ that is opposingly-arrangedwith respect to, and, spaced-apart in a substantially parallelrelationship with respect to the sidewall surface 138′ of the firstguide flange 138. The inner sidewall surface 138′, 140′ of each of thefirst and second guide flanges 138, 140 and the second document landingsurface portion 114 d″ form a narrow, elongated document channel 142having an entrance opening 142 a at a first end 142′ and an exit opening142 b at a second end 142″.

Referring to FIG. 2I, after attaching the component 100 to the documentprocessor 1, a user (not shown) may interface the register tape, D (seeD₁ in FIG. 2B a first methodology and D₂ in FIG. 2B a secondmethodology), with the component in one of two methodologies. In a firstmethodology, the user may deposit a length of register tape, D₁ (whichmay be collapsed upon itself in rolled form), within the cavity 120 ofthe component 100 by way of the upper opening 124 a. Prior to, during orafter the depositing step, a user may grasp an end portion of a lengthof the register tape, D₁, and, guide/align the end portion of the lengthof register tape, D₁, through/within the side slit 124 b. The user maythen manually guide the end portion of the length of register tape, D₁,to an orientation within the input hopper 3 and thereafter actuate thedocument processor 1 such that the document processor 1 begins to pullthe register tape, D₁, through the document processor 1 along thedocument path. Once the document processor 1 begins to pull the registertape, D₁, in order to move the register tape, D₁, along the documentpath, the register tape, D₁, is unfurled from its stowed (e.g., rolled)orientation within the cavity 120 of the component 100.

As the register tape, D₁, is pulled through the document processor 1along the document path, the register tape, D₁, may be pulled adjacentand be biased against at least the curved portion 128 a of the flange128 as the register tape, D₁, is unfurled within the cavity 122 suchthat a vertical stiffness may be imparted to the register tape, D₁,about at least the curved portion 128 a of the flange 128. Further, thesubstantially linear portion 128 a′ may guide the register tape, D₁,into the input hopper 3 in a substantially linear direction. Yet evenfurther, the cavity 120 may maintain an unprocessed portion of thelength of the register tape, D₁, if arranged in a rolled orientation, ina substantially upright position.

In a second methodology, the user may deposit a length of a leading endof register tape, D₂ (which may be at least partially arranged in anon-collapsed upon, substantially linear/flat, non-rolled form), withinthe narrow, elongated document channel 142 formed by the inner sidewallsurface 138′, 140′ of each of the first and second guide flanges 138,140 and the second document landing surface portion 114 d″. Oncearranged within the narrow, elongated document channel 142, the leadingend of the register tape, D₂, may: (1) exit from the narrow, elongateddocument channel 142 at the exit opening 142 b at a second end 142″,then (2) wrap about a portion the outer surface 114 a of thesubstantially tubular member 114, the (3) wrap about the linear portion134 b of the elongated, tear-drop shaped stiffening rib 132, then (4)wrap about the curved portion 134 a of the elongated, tear-drop shapedstiffening rib 132, the (5) extend past, but not within, the side slit124 b and then (6) extend along the flange 128; accordingly in thesecond methodology, none of the register tape, D₂, is never disposedwithin the cavity 122, but, rather, is guided through the narrow,elongated document channel 142 and then wrapped/disposed exterior of thesubstantially tubular member 114 and the elongated, tear-drop shapedstiffening rib 132. Once the leading end of the register tape, D₂, isarranged along the flange 128, the user may then manually guide theleading end portion of the length of register tape, D₂, to anorientation within the input hopper 3 and thereafter actuate thedocument processor 1 such that the document processor 1 begins to pullthe register tape, D₂, through the document processor 1 along thedocument path. Once the document processor 1 begins to pull the registertape, D₂, in order to move the register tape, D₂, along the documentpath from the above-described orientation that is wrapped/disposedexterior of the substantially tubular member 114 and not within thecavity 122.

As the register tape, D₂, is pulled through the document processor 1along the document path, the register tape, D₂, may be pulled adjacentand be biased against one or more of the curved portion 134 a and thelinear portion 134 b of the elongated, tear-drop shaped stiffening rib132 as the register tape, D₂, is guided through the narrow, elongateddocument channel 142 such that a vertical stiffness may be imparted tothe register tape, D₂, about at least a portion of the elongated,tear-drop shaped stiffening rib 132. Further, the substantially linearportion 128 a′ may guide the register tape, D₂, into the input hopper 3in a substantially linear direction.

Accordingly, irrespective of the first or second depositing methodology,the component 100 may controllably-maintain an upright orientation ofthe register tape, D, while also creating the potential of an impartedvertical stiffness to the register tape, D, as a result of the documentprocessor 1 “pulling”/“tugging” the register tape at a first end whilethe second end is arranged within the cavity 122/the narrow, elongateddocument channel 142 in a upright orientation. Further, the component100 may also substantially linearly-guide the register tape, D, to afeeding position within the input hopper 3 along the flange 128. Thus,the register tape, D, may be less prone to being physically misaligned,deformed or damaged before/during feeding of the register tape, D,through the document processor 1 along the document path; as a result,the component 100 may improve/maintain feeding reliability of theregister tape, D, in order to improve/maintain, for example, processing(e.g., imaging/capturing of the indicia, I) of the register tape, D.

Referring to FIG. 3A, a component 200 is shown according to anembodiment. The component 200 may include a unitary, one-piece body thatis formed from any desirable material (e.g., a synthetic resin, metal orthe like). The component 200 may be formed, for example, in an injectionmolding procedure by injecting a plastic material into a mold tool (notshown).

The component 200 may include a base member 212 having an upper surface212 a and a lower surface 212 b. A substantially tubular member 214 isattached to and extends away from the upper surface 212 a of the basemember 212. An attachment member 216 is attached to and extends awayfrom the upper surface 212 a of the base member 212. A rigidifyingmember 218 (see, e.g., FIG. 3G but also FIGS. 3C-3F) is attached to andextends away from the lower surface 212 b of the base member 212.

The attachment member 216 may include a body 216 a and one or more ribs216 b. The body 216 a may include a substantially rectangular portion216 a′ and a rounded portion 216 a″. The one or more ribs 216 b extendaway from a side surface 216 c of the body 216 a. The one or more ribs216 b may include an upper surface 216 b′ that is co-planar with anupper surface 216 d of the body 216 a.

The body 216 a and the one or more ribs 216 b may extend away from theupper surface 212 a of the base member 212. One or more fastenerpassages 216 e may be formed in the upper surface 216 d of the body 216a in order to permit one or more fasteners, F (see FIG. 3H), to extendthrough the base member 212 from the lower surface 212 b, past a planedefined by the upper surface 212 a and beyond the upper surface 216 d ofthe body 216 a. The body 216 a and the one or more ribs 216 b may definea “male portion” that interfaces with a “female portion” (not shown)formed by an underside surface 5 of a base member portion 6 of thedocument processor 1 (see, e.g., FIG. 3H) of the document processor 1;the base member portion 6 of the document processor 1 may form one ormore of the input hopper 3 and the output bin 4; the fasteners mayextend through the one or more fastener passages 216 e for attaching thecomponent 200 to base member portion 6 of the document processor 1 toform an assembly 275 (see, e.g., FIG. 3I).

Although one or more fasteners, F, may extend through one or morefastener passages 216 e for attaching the component 200 to the documentprocessor 1 for forming the assembly, attachment means other than one ormore of the fasteners, F, may be utilized. For example, the attachmentmeans may include any suitable attachment species for joining thecomponent 200 to the document processor 1 such as, for example: glue,tape, one or more rivets, bolts or the like. In another embodiment, theattachment means may include a mechanical connection such as asnap-in-place or slide-in-place arrangement extending from/formed in thecomponent that interfaces with the base member portion 6 of the documentprocessor 1 that may easily permit a user to selectively attach/removethe component 200 with the document processor 1 without using fasteners,F, glue, tape, one or more rivets, bolts or the like.

Referring to FIG. 3G, the rigidifying member 218 may include a body 218a that extends away from lower surface 212 b of the base member 212. Thebody 218 a may include a plurality of perpendicularly-arranged ribs 218b and one or more arcuate-shaped ribs 218 c. One or more of the ribs 218b, 218 c may be arranged in an opposing relationship with and correspondto the dimension of the substantially rectangular portion 216 a′ and arounded, head portion 216 a″ of the body 216 a of the attachment member216 that are arranged upon the upper surface 212 a of the base member212.

Referring to FIG. 3A, the substantially tubular member 214 may include abody 220 formed by an outer surface 214 a, an inner surface 214 b, anupper lip surface 214 c and a document landing surface 214 d (see FIG.3B). The upper lip surface 214 c connects the outer surface 214 a to theinner surface 214 b. The upper lip surface 214 c may define a thickness,T, of the body 220.

The document landing surface 214 d includes a first document landingsurface portion 214 d′ and a second document landing surface portion 214d″. The first document landing surface portion 214 d′ includes acircular surface area that is substantially similar in dimension (i.e.,the circular surface area) to the document landing surface portion 14 dof the component 10 described above. The second document landing surfaceportion 214 d″ forms a narrow, elongated surface.

The inner surface 214 b and the first document landing surface portion214 d′ may define a cavity 222 extending through a portion of a length,L, of the body 220 (noting that the length, L, is a dimension thatextends between approximately about the upper surface 212 a of the basemember 212 and the upper lip surface 214 c). Functionally, the cavity222 may stow the register tape, D, when the register tape, D, isinterfaced with the component 200.

The cavity 222 may include a length, L_(c), that extends fromapproximately about the upper lip surface 214 c and terminate at thefirst document landing surface portion 214 d′; the first documentlanding surface portion 214 d′ may be elevated away from the uppersurface 212 a of the base member 212 (see FIG. 3C) at a height, H.Accordingly; as a result of the spaced-apart relationship of the firstdocument landing surface portion 214 d′ with respect to the uppersurface 212 a of the base member 212 at the height, H, the firstdocument landing surface portion 214 d′ may be said to be in anon-co-planar relationship with the upper surface 212 a of the basemember 212, and, the cavity 222 may not extend along the length, L, ofthe body 220 (i.e., the length, L, of the cavity 222 may be calculatedby L_(C)=L−H).

When the component 200 is attached to the document processor 1, theupper surface 212 a of the base member 212 may be disposed substantiallyadjacent the underside surface 5 of a base member portion 6 of thedocument processor 1. Further, when the component 200 is attached to thedocument processor 1, the first document landing surface portion 214 d′may be substantially co-planar with an upper surface 7 of the basemember portion 6 of the document processor 1. Accordingly, the height,H, may be approximately equal to a thickness of the base member portion6 of the document processor 1.

Access to the cavity 222 is permitted by way of at least one passage 224including an upper opening 224 a and a side slit 224 b. The upperopening 224 a is formed by the connection of the upper lip surface 214 cand the inner surface 214 b of the body 220. The register tape, D, maybe inserted into the cavity 222 by way of the upper opening 224 a.

The side slit 224 b is formed in a thickness, T, of the body 220.Formation of the side slit 224 b in the body 220 permits the firstdocument landing surface portion 214 d′ to be in direct communicationwith the outer surface 214 a; as seen in FIGS. 3A and 3C, the outersurface 214 a is in direct communication with the upper surface 212 a ofthe base member 212. The register tape, D, may exit the cavity 222 byway of the side slit 224 b.

Referring to FIG. 3B, approximately about ninety-percent of the innersurface 214 b forms the cavity 222 to include a substantially circulardimension (with a remainder of approximately about ten-percent of thecircular dimension at the location of the side slit 224 b); however,approximately about ten-percent of the inner surface 214 b of the body220 diverges (from a closed-loop substantially circulardimension/orientation) in opposing directions in order to cause the body220 to “open up” and form the side slit 224 b. Accordingly, as seen inFIG. 3B, the inner surface 214 b of the body 220 may be said to“arcuately flare” in a first direction to form a first arcuate portion226 a and in a second direction (that flares in an opposite directionwith respect to the first direction) to form a second arcuate portion226 b; according to a frame of reference established by the view of FIG.3B, the first arcuate portion 226 a may be said to flare in a “concaveup” orientation whereas the second arcuate portion 226 b may be said toflare in a “concave down” orientation.

As seen in FIG. 3B, the first arcuate portion 226 a may flare in amanner that leads to a formation of a flange 228 that is connected tothe body 220 by way of the first arcuate portion 226 a. The flange 228includes a curved portion 228 a and a substantially linear portion 228 bthat is connected to the curved portion 228 a. The curved portion 228 ais connected to and extends away from the first arcuate portion 226 a;the curved portion 228 a and the first arcuate portion 226 a maycontribute to the formation of a rounded head portion 230. Referring toFIG. 3C, the flange 228 extends along a length, L_(F), which may be lessthan the length, L, of the body 220. The length, L_(F), of the flange228 may extend between approximately about the upper lip surface 214 cand the first document landing surface portion 214 d′.

As seen in FIG. 3B, the second arcuate portion 226 b may flare in amanner that forms an elongated, tear-drop shaped stiffening rib 232 thatis connected to the body 220. The elongated, tear-drop shaped stiffeningrib 232 includes a curved portion 234 a, a substantially linear portion234 b, the second arcuate portion 226 b and a portion of the body 220.The curved portion 234 a is connected to and extends away from thesecond arcuate portion 226 b. The linear portion 234 b is connected tothe curved portion 234 a at a first end 234 b′ and is connected to andextends substantially tangentially from the outer surface 214 a of thesubstantially tubular member 214 at a second end 234 b″. The curvedportion 234 a and the second arcuate portion 226 b may contribute to theformation of a rounded head portion 236. Referring to FIG. 3C, theelongated, tear-drop shaped stiffening rib 232 extends along the length,L, of the body 220 between the upper lip surface 214 c and the uppersurface 212 a of the base member 212.

Referring to FIG. 3B, the narrow, elongated surface formed by the seconddocument landing surface portion 214 d″ is enclosed by a first guideflange 238 and a second guide flange 240. The first guide flange 238extends substantially perpendicularly from and is connected to the uppersurface 212 a of the base member 212. The first guide flange 238 alsoextends from a portion of the outer surface 214 a and the inner surface214 b of the substantially tubular member 214.

The second document landing surface portion 214 d″extends substantiallyperpendicularly from a sidewall surface 238′ of the first guide flange238. The second document landing surface portion 214 d″ is substantiallyco-planar with and connected directly to/is in direct communication withthe first document landing surface portion 214 d′ (whereas, as seen inFIG. 2B, the second document landing surface portion 114 d″ of thecomponent 100 is not connected to and is not in direct communicationwith the first document landing surface portion 114 d′).

The second guide flange 240 extends substantially perpendicularly fromthe second document landing surface portion 214 d″. The second guideflange 240 also extends tangentially from a portion of the outer surface214 a and the inner surface 214 b of the substantially tubular member214.

The second guide flange 240 includes a sidewall surface 240′ that isopposingly-arranged with respect to, and, spaced-apart in asubstantially parallel relationship with respect to the sidewall surface238′ of the first guide flange 238. The inner sidewall surface 238′,240′ of each of the first and second guide flanges 238, 240 and thesecond document landing surface portion 214 d″ form a narrow, elongateddocument channel 242 having an entrance opening 242 a at a first end242′ and an exit opening 242 b at a second end 242″. The first andsecond guide flanges 238, 240 both originate and extend away from abouta rear edge 212 c of the base member 212 where the entrance opening 242a is located.

As explained above, the second document landing surface portion 214 d″is connected directly to/is in direct communication with the firstdocument landing surface portion 214 d′; accordingly, the narrow,elongated document channel 242 is connected to/is in directcommunication with the cavity 222. The narrow, elongated documentchannel 242 is connected to/is in direct communication with the cavity222 at the exit opening 242 b at the second end 242″ of the narrow,elongated document channel 242; because of this configuration, theregister tape, D, may: (1) laterally enter the cavity 222 at the exitopening 242 b, or, the register tape, D, may vertically enter the cavity222 at the upper opening 224 a, and (2) laterally exit the cavity 222 atthe side slit 224 b.

Referring to FIG. 3I, after attaching the component 200 to the documentprocessor 1, a user (not shown) may interface the register tape, D (seeD₁ in FIG. 3B a first methodology and D₂ in FIG. 3B a secondmethodology), with the component in one of two methodologies. In a firstmethodology, the user may deposit a length of register tape, D₁ (whichmay be collapsed upon itself in rolled form), within the cavity 220 ofthe component 200 by way of the upper opening 224 a. Prior to, during orafter the depositing step, a user may grasp an end portion of a lengthof the register tape, D₁, and, guide/align the end portion of the lengthof register tape, D, through/within the side slit 224 b. The user maythen manually guide the end portion of the length of register tape, D₁,to an orientation within the input hopper 3 and thereafter actuate thedocument processor 1 such that the document processor 1 begins to pullthe register tape, D₁, through the document processor 1 along thedocument path. Once the document processor 1 begins to pull the registertape, D₁, in order to move the register tape, D₁, along the documentpath, the register tape, D₁, is unfurled from its stowed (e.g., rolled)orientation within the cavity 220 of the component 200.

As the register tape, D₁, is pulled through the document processor 1along the document path, the register tape, D₁, may be pulled adjacentand be biased against at least the curved portion 228 a of the flange228 as the register tape, D₁, is unfurled within the cavity 222 suchthat a vertical stiffness may be imparted to the register tape, D₁,about at least the curved portion 228 a of the flange 228. Further, thesubstantially linear portion 228 a′ may guide the register tape, D₁,into the input hopper 3 in a substantially linear direction. Yet evenfurther, the cavity 220 may maintain an unprocessed portion of thelength of the register tape, D₁, if arranged in a rolled orientation, ina substantially upright position.

In a second methodology, the user may deposit a length of a leading endof register tape, D₂ (which may be at least partially arranged in anon-collapsed upon, substantially linear/flat, non-rolled form), withinthe narrow, elongated document channel 242 formed by the inner sidewallsurface 238′, 240′ of each of the first and second guide flanges 238,240 and the second document landing surface portion 214 d″. Oncearranged within the narrow, elongated document channel 242, the leadingend of the register tape, D₂, may: (1) exit from the narrow, elongateddocument channel 242 at the exit opening 242 b at a second end 242″,then (2) enter the cavity 222, then (3) be disposed adjacent the innersurface 214 b of the substantially tubular member 214, then (4) exit thecavity 222 by way of the side slit 224 b (which may occur by the naturalmovement of the register tape, D₂, or, manually with user-intervention,then (5) extend out of and beyond the cavity 222 along the flange 228.Once the leading end of the register tape, D₂, is arranged along theflange 228, the user may then manually guide the leading end portion ofthe length of register tape, D₂, to an orientation within the inputhopper 3 and thereafter actuate the document processor 1 such that thedocument processor 1 begins to pull the register tape, D₂, through thedocument processor 1 along the document path. Once the documentprocessor 1 begins to pull the register tape, D₂, in order to move theregister tape, D₂, along the document path from the above-describedorientation from an orientation firstly within the narrow, elongateddocument channel 242 and then subsequently into and out of the cavity222.

As the register tape, D₂, is pulled through the document processor 1along the document path, the register tape, D₂, may be pulled adjacentand be biased against at least the curved portion 228 a of the flange228 as the register tape, D₂, is unfurled within the cavity 222 suchthat a vertical stiffness may be imparted to the register tape, D₂,about at least the curved portion 228 a of the flange 228. Further, thesubstantially linear portion 228 a′ may guide the register tape, D₂,into the input hopper 3 in a substantially linear direction. Yet evenfurther, the cavity 220 may maintain an unprocessed portion of thelength of the register tape, D₂, if arranged in a rolled orientation, ina substantially upright position.

Accordingly, irrespective of the first or second depositing methodology,the component 200 may controllably-maintain an upright orientation ofthe register tape, D, while also creating the potential of an impartedvertical stiffness to the register tape, D, as a result of the documentprocessor 1 “pulling”/“tugging” the register tape at a first end whilethe second end is arranged within the cavity 222/the narrow, elongateddocument channel 242 in a upright orientation. Further, the component200 may also substantially linearly-guide the register tape, D, to afeeding position within the input hopper 3 along the flange 228. Thus,the register tape, D, may be less prone to being physically misaligned,deformed or damaged before/during feeding of the register tape, D,through the document processor 1 along the document path; as a result,the component 200 may improve/maintain feeding reliability of theregister tape, D, in order to improve/maintain, for example, processing(e.g., imaging/capturing of the indicia, I) of the register tape, D.

Referring to FIG. 4A, a component 300 is shown according to anembodiment. The component 300 may include a unitary, one-piece body thatis formed from any desirable material (e.g., a synthetic resin, metal orthe like). The component 300 may be formed, for example, in an injectionmolding procedure by injecting a plastic material into a mold tool (notshown).

The component 300 may include a base member 312 having an upper surface312 a and a lower surface 312 b. A substantially tubular member 314 isattached to and extends away from the upper surface 312 a of the basemember 312. An attachment member 316 is attached to and extends awayfrom the upper surface 312 a of the base member 312. A rigidifyingmember 318 (see, e.g., FIG. 4G but also FIGS. 4C-4F) is attached to andextends away from the lower surface 312 b of the base member 312.

The attachment member 316 may include a body 316 a and one or more ribs316 b. The body 316 a may include a substantially rectangular portion316 a′ and a rounded portion 316 a″. The one or more ribs 316 b extendaway from a side surface 316 c of the body 316 a. The one or more ribs316 b may include an upper surface 316 b′ that is co-planar with anupper surface 316 d of the body 316 a.

The body 316 a and the one or more ribs 316 b may extend away from theupper surface 312 a of the base member 312. One or more fastenerpassages 316 e may be formed in the upper surface 316 d of the body 316a in order to permit one or more fasteners, F, to extend through thebase member 312 from the lower surface 312 b, past a plane defined bythe upper surface 312 a and beyond the upper surface 316 d of the body316 a. The body 316 a and the one or more ribs 316 b may define a “maleportion” that interfaces with a “female portion” (not shown) formed byan underside surface 5 of a base member portion 6 of the documentprocessor 1 (see, e.g., FIG. 4H) of the document processor 1; the basemember portion 6 of the document processor 1 may form one or more of theinput hopper 3 and the output bin 4; the fasteners may extend throughthe one or more fastener passages 316 e for attaching the component 300to base member portion 6 of the document processor 1 to form an assembly375 (see, e.g., FIG. 4I).

Although one or more fasteners, F, may extend through one or morefastener passages 316 e for attaching the component 300 to the documentprocessor 1 for forming the assembly, attachment means other than one ormore of the fasteners, F, may be utilized. For example, the attachmentmeans may include any suitable attachment species for joining thecomponent 300 to the document processor 1 such as, for example: glue,tape, one or more rivets, bolts or the like. In another embodiment, theattachment means may include a mechanical connection such as asnap-in-place or slide-in-place arrangement extending from/formed in thecomponent that interfaces with the base member portion 6 of the documentprocessor 1 that may easily permit a user to selectively attach/removethe component 300 with the document processor 1 without using fasteners,F, glue, tape, one or more rivets, bolts or the like.

Referring to FIG. 4G, the rigidifying member 318 may include a body 318a that extends away from lower surface 312 b of the base member 312. Thebody 318 a may include a plurality of perpendicularly-arranged ribs 318b and one or more arcuate-shaped ribs 318 c. One or more of the ribs 318b, 318 c may be arranged in an opposing relationship with and correspondto the dimension of the substantially rectangular portion 316 a′ and arounded, head portion 316 a″ of the body 316 a of the attachment member316 that are arranged upon the upper surface 312 a of the base member312.

Referring to FIG. 4A, the substantially tubular member 314 may include abody 320 formed by an outer surface 314 a, an inner surface 314 b, anupper lip surface 314 c and a document landing surface 314 d (see FIG.4B). The upper lip surface 314 c connects the outer surface 314 a to theinner surface 314 b. The upper lip surface 314 c may define a thickness,T, of the body 320.

The document landing surface 314 d includes a first document landingsurface portion 314 d′ and a second document landing surface portion 314d″. The first document landing surface portion 314 d′ includes acircular surface area is substantially similar in dimension (i.e., thecircular surface area) to the document landing surface portion 14 d ofthe component 10 described above. The second document landing surfaceportion 314 d″ forms a narrow, elongated surface.

The inner surface 314 b and the first document landing surface portion314 d′ may define a cavity 322 extending through a portion of a length,L, of the body 320 (noting that the length, L, is a dimension thatextends between approximately about the upper surface 312 a of the basemember 312 and the upper lip surface 314 c). Functionally, the cavity322 may stow the register tape, D, when the register tape, D, isinterfaced with the component 300.

The cavity 322 may include a length, L_(C), that extends fromapproximately about the upper lip surface 314 c and terminate at thefirst document landing surface portion 314 d′; the first documentlanding surface portion 314 d′ may be elevated away from the uppersurface 312 a of the base member 312 (see FIG. 4C) at a height, H.Accordingly; as a result of the spaced-apart relationship of the firstdocument landing surface portion 314 d′ with respect to the uppersurface 312 a of the base member 312 at the height, H, the firstdocument landing surface portion 314 d′ may be said to be in anon-co-planar relationship with the upper surface 312 a of the basemember 312, and, the cavity 322 may not extend along the length, L, ofthe body 320 (i.e., the length, L, of the cavity 322 may be calculatedby L_(C)=L−H).

When the component 300 is attached to the document processor 1, theupper surface 312 a of the base member 312 may be disposed substantiallyadjacent the underside surface 5 of a base member portion 6 of thedocument processor 1. Further, when the component 300 is attached to thedocument processor 1, the first document landing surface portion 314 d′may be substantially co-planar with an upper surface 7 of the basemember portion 6 of the document processor 1. Accordingly, the height,H, may be approximately equal to a thickness of the base member portion6 of the document processor 1.

Access to the cavity 322 is permitted by way of at least one passage 324including an upper opening 324 a and a side slit 324 b. The upperopening 324 a is formed by the connection of the upper lip surface 314 cand the inner surface 314 b of the body 320. The register tape, D, maybe inserted into the cavity 322 by way of the upper opening 324 a.

The side slit 324 b is formed in the thickness, T, of the body 320.Formation of the side slit 324 b in the body 320 permits the firstdocument landing surface portion 314 d′ to be in direct communicationwith the outer surface 314 a; as seen in FIGS. 4A and 4C, the outersurface 314 a is in direct communication with the upper surface 312 a ofthe base member 312. The register tape, D, may exit the cavity 322 byway of the side slit 324 b.

Referring to FIG. 4B, approximately about ninety-percent of the innersurface 314 b forms the cavity 320 to include a substantially circulardimension (with a remainder of approximately about ten-percent of thecircular dimension shown at the location of the side slit 324 b);however, approximately about ten-percent of the inner surface 314 b ofthe body 320 diverges (from a closed-loop substantially circulardimension/orientation) in opposing directions in order to cause the body320 to “open up” and form the side slit 324 b. Accordingly, as seen inFIG. 4B, the inner surface 314 b of the body 320 may be said to“arcuately flare” in a first direction to form a first arcuate portion326 a and in a second direction (that flares in an opposite directionwith respect to the first direction) to form a second arcuate portion326 b; according to a frame of reference established by the view of FIG.4B, the first arcuate portion 326 a may be said to flare in a “concaveup” orientation whereas the second arcuate portion 326 b may be said toflare in a “concave down” orientation.

As seen in FIG. 4B, the first arcuate portion 326 a may flare in amanner that leads to a formation of a flange 328 that is connected tothe body 320 by way of the first arcuate portion 326 a. The flange 328includes a curved portion 328 a and a substantially linear portion 328 bthat is connected to the curved portion 328 a. The curved portion 328 ais connected to and extends away from the first arcuate portion 326 a;the curved portion 328 a and the first arcuate portion 326 a maycontribute to the formation of a rounded head portion 330. Referring toFIG. 4C, the flange 328 extends along a length, L_(F), which may be lessthan the length, L, of the body 320. The length, L_(F), of the flange328 may extend between approximately about the upper lip surface 314 cand the first document landing surface portion 314 d′.

As seen in FIG. 4B, the second arcuate portion 326 b may flare in amanner that forms an elongated, tear-drop shaped stiffening rib 332 thatis connected to the body 320. The elongated, tear-drop shaped stiffeningrib 332 includes a curved portion 334 a, a substantially linear portion334 b, the second arcuate portion 326 b and a portion of the body 320.The curved portion 334 a is connected to and extends away from thesecond arcuate portion 326 b. The linear portion 334 b is connected tothe curved portion 334 a at a first end 334 b′ and is connected to andextends substantially tangentially from the outer surface 314 a of thesubstantially tubular member 314 at a second end 334 b″. The curvedportion 334 a and the second arcuate portion 326 b may contribute to theformation of a rounded head portion 336. Referring to FIG. 4C, theelongated, tear-drop shaped stiffening rib 332 extends along the length,L, of the body 320 between the upper lip surface 314 c and the uppersurface 312 a of the base member 312.

Referring to FIG. 4B, the narrow, elongated surface formed by the seconddocument landing surface portion 314 d″ is enclosed by a first guideflange 338 and a second guide flange 340. The first guide flange 338extends substantially perpendicularly from and is connected to the uppersurface 312 a of the base member 312. The first guide flange 338 alsoextends from a portion of the outer surface 314 a and the inner surface314 b of the substantially tubular member 314.

The second document landing surface portion 314 d″extends substantiallyperpendicularly from a sidewall surface 338′ of the first guide flange338. The second document landing surface portion 314 d″ is substantiallyco-planar with and connected directly to/is in direct communication withthe first document landing surface portion 314 d′ (whereas, as seen inFIG. 2B, the second document landing surface portion 114 d″ of thecomponent 100 is not connected to and is not in direct communicationwith the first document landing surface portion 114 d′).

The second guide flange 340 extends substantially perpendicularly fromthe second document landing surface portion 314 d″. The second guideflange 340 also extends tangentially from a portion of the outer surface314 a and the inner surface 314 b of the substantially tubular member314.

The second guide flange 340 includes a sidewall surface 340′ that isopposingly-arranged with respect to, and, spaced-apart in asubstantially parallel relationship with respect to the sidewall surface338′ of the first guide flange 338. The inner sidewall surface 338′,340′ of each of the first and second guide flanges 338, 340 and thesecond document landing surface portion 314 d″ form a narrow, elongateddocument channel 342 having an entrance opening 342 a at a first end342′ and an exit opening 342 b at a second end 342″.

The first and second guide flanges 338, 340 both originate and extendaway from about a rear edge 312 c of the base member 312 where theentrance opening 342 a is located. However, the second guide flange 340includes a tail portion 342 that extends away from the rear edge 312 cof the base member 312; accordingly, when the component 300 is attachedto the document processor 1, a portion of a sidewall 8 of the documentprocessor 1 and the tail portion 342 may define the entrance opening 342a.

With continued reference to FIG. 4B, the component 300 includes a guidepost 344 extending away from the first document landing surface portion314 d′. The guide post 344 may be centrally location upon the firstdocument landing surface portion 314 d′.

As explained above, the second document landing surface portion 314 d″is connected directly to/is in direct communication with the firstdocument landing surface portion 314 d′; accordingly, the narrow,elongated document channel 342 is connected to/is in directcommunication with the cavity 322. The narrow, elongated documentchannel 342 is connected to/is in direct communication with the cavity322 at the exit opening 342 b at the second end 342″ of the narrow,elongated document channel 342; because of this configuration, theregister tape, D, may: (1) laterally enter the cavity 322 at the exitopening 342 b, or, the register tape, D, may vertically enter the cavity322 at the upper opening 324 a, and (2) laterally exit the cavity 322 atthe side slit 324 b.

Referring to FIG. 4I, after attaching the component 300 to the documentprocessor 1, a user (not shown) may interface the register tape, D (seeD₁ in FIG. 4B a first methodology and D₂ in FIG. 4B a secondmethodology), with the component in one of two methodologies. In a firstmethodology, the user may deposit a length of register tape, D₁ (whichmay be collapsed upon itself in rolled form), within the cavity 320 ofthe component 300 by way of the upper opening 324 a. If arranged inrolled form, the guide post 344 may extend through a central/axialopening of the roll of register tape, D₁, such that the guide post 344may contribute to maintaining an upright orientation of the roll ofregister tape, D₁. Prior to, during or after the depositing step, a usermay grasp an end portion of a length of the register tape, D, and,guide/align the end portion of the length of register tape, D₁,through/within the side slit 324 b. The user may then manually guide theend portion of the length of register tape, D₁, to an orientation withinthe input hopper 3 and thereafter actuate the document processor 1 suchthat the document processor 1 begins to pull the register tape, D₁,through the document processor 1 along the document path. Once thedocument processor 1 begins to pull the register tape, D₁, in order tomove the register tape, D₁, along the document path, the register tape,D₁, is unfurled from its stowed (e.g., rolled) orientation within thecavity 320 of the component 300.

As the register tape, D₁, is pulled through the document processor 1along the document path, the register tape, D₁, may be pulled adjacentand be biased against at least the curved portion 328 a of the flange328 as the register tape, D₁, is unfurled within the cavity 322 suchthat a vertical stiffness may be imparted to the register tape, D₁,about at least the curved portion 328 a of the flange 328. Further, thesubstantially linear portion 328 a′ may guide the register tape, D₁,into the input hopper 3 in a substantially linear direction. Yet evenfurther, the cavity 320 may maintain an unprocessed portion of thelength of the register tape, D₁, if arranged in a rolled orientation, ina substantially upright position.

In a second methodology, the user may deposit a length of a leading endof register tape, D₂ (which may be at least partially arranged in anon-collapsed upon, substantially linear/flat, non-rolled form), withinthe narrow, elongated document channel 342 formed by the inner sidewallsurface 338′, 340′ of each of the first and second guide flanges 338,340 and the second document landing surface portion 314 d″. Oncearranged within the narrow, elongated document channel 342, the leadingend of the register tape, D₂, may: (1) exit from the narrow, elongateddocument channel 342 at the exit opening 342 b at a second end 342″,then (2) enter the cavity 322, then (3) be disposed adjacent one or bothof the guide post 344 and the inner surface 314 b of the substantiallytubular member 314, then (4) exit the cavity 322 by way of the side slit324 b (which may occur by the natural movement of the register tape, D₂,or, manually with user-intervention, then (5) extend out of and beyondthe cavity 322 along the flange 328. Once the leading end of theregister tape, D₂, is arranged along the flange 328, the user may thenmanually guide the leading end portion of the length of register tape,D₂, to an orientation within the input hopper 3 and thereafter actuatethe document processor 1 such that the document processor 1 begins topull the register tape, D₂, through the document processor 1 along thedocument path. Once the document processor 1 begins to pull the registertape, D₂, in order to move the register tape, D₂, along the documentpath from the above-described orientation from an orientation firstlywithin the narrow, elongated document channel 342 and then subsequentlyinto and out of the cavity 322.

As the register tape, D₂, is pulled through the document processor 1along the document path, the register tape, D₂, may be pulled adjacentand be biased against at least the curved portion 328 a of the flange328 as the register tape, D₂, is unfurled within the cavity 322 suchthat a vertical stiffness may be imparted to the register tape, D₂,about at least the curved portion 328 a of the flange 328. Further, thesubstantially linear portion 328 a′ may guide the register tape, D₂,into the input hopper 3 in a substantially linear direction. Yet evenfurther, the cavity 320 may maintain an unprocessed portion of thelength of the register tape, D₂, if arranged in a rolled orientation, ina substantially upright position.

Accordingly, irrespective of the first or second depositing methodology,the component 300 may controllably-maintain an upright orientation ofthe register tape, D, while also creating the potential of an impartedvertical stiffness to the register tape, D, as a result of the documentprocessor 1 “pulling”/“tugging” the register tape at a first end whilethe second end is arranged within the cavity 322/the narrow, elongateddocument channel 342 in a upright orientation. Further, the component300 may also substantially linearly-guide the register tape, D, to afeeding position within the input hopper 3 along the flange 328. Thus,the register tape, D, may be less prone to being physically misaligned,deformed or damaged before/during feeding of the register tape, D,through the document processor 1 along the document path; as a result,the component 300 may improve/maintain feeding reliability of theregister tape, D, in order to improve/maintain, for example, processing(e.g., imaging/capturing of the indicia, I) of the register tape, D.

Referring to FIGS. 1B, 2B, 3B, 4B, attention is drawn tosimilarities/differences in how each of the components 10, 100, 200, 300impart the vertical stiffness to the register tape, D. For example, eachof the components 10, 100, 200, 300 include at least a first loadingmethodology (see: register tape, D₁) where the register tape, D₁, isloaded in substantially rolled formed and may be pulled adjacent/bebiased against at least the curved portion 28 a, 128 a, 228 a, 328 a ofthe flange 28, 128, 228, 328; when pulled adjacent/biased against atleast the curved portion 28 a, 128 a, 228 a, 328 a, it may be said thatthe register tape, D₁, is tangentially pulled adjacent at least onepoint of contact (i.e., the curved portion 28 a, 128 a, 228 a, 328 a) ofthe component 10, 100, 200, 300. However, regarding the second loadingmethodology (see: register tape, D₂) of FIGS. 2B, 3B, 4B, the registertape, D₂, may be tangentially pulled adjacent at least two points ofcontact (i.e., the portion the outer surface 114 a, the curved portion134 a and the curved portion 128 a of FIG. 2B; the curved portionproximate the exit opening 242 b of the narrow, elongated documentchannel 242 and the curved portion 228 a of FIG. 3B; the curved portionproximate the exit opening 342 b of the narrow, elongated documentchannel 342, the guide post 344 and the curved portion 328 a of FIG. 4B)of the component 100, 200, 300. Accordingly, in an implementation, thevertical stiffness of the second loading methodology may be increasedover that of the first loading methodology by providing additionaltangential points of contact such that the register tape, D, may betangentially biased adjacent additional points/surface area of thecomponents 10, 100, 200, 300.

Referring to FIG. 5, the output bin 4 may include a first bay 4 a and asecond bay 4 b that are formed by a plurality of sidewall members 9including a first outer sidewall member 9 a, a second outer sidewallmember 9 c and an intermediate sidewall member 9 b arranged between thefirst outer sidewall member 9 a and the second outer sidewall member 9c. The plurality of sidewall members 9 may extend from the upper surface7 of the base member portion 6 of the document processor 1.

One or more document catch members 1000 may be attached to the pluralityof sidewall members 9. For example, a first document catch member 1000 amay be attached to the first outer sidewall member 9 a and theintermediate sidewall member 9 b, and, a second document catch member1000 b may be attached to the second outer sidewall member 9 c and theintermediate sidewall member 9 b. The first document catch member 1000 aprevents documents, D, from being ejected from the document processor 1at the first bay 4 a after the document processor 1 has processed thedocument, D, and, the second document catch member 1000 b preventsdocuments, D, from being ejected from the document processor 1 at thesecond bay 4 b after the document processor 1 has processed thedocument, D.

Each of the first and second document catch members 1000 a, 1000 b mayinclude a substantially U- or C-shape configuration having a first leg1002 a arranged in parallel with a second leg 1002 b and a bridgeportion 1002 c connecting the first leg 1002 a to the second leg 1002 b.As shown in the illustrated embodiments, the first and second legs 1002a, 1002 b are connected to the plurality of sidewall members 9.

In some implementations, the document processor 1 may be utilized toprocess documents, D, such as, for example, a check that has arelatively smaller dimension than that of another document, such as, forexample, register tape. In an instance of the document processor 1processing register tape, D, as described above, the register tape, D,may include a length-wise dimension that is greater than a length-widedimension of each of the first bay 4 a and the second bay 4 b;accordingly, in an implementation, one or more of the first documentcatch member 1000 a and the second document catch member 1000 b may bemoveably-disposed relative to the plurality of sidewall members 9 inorder to permit documents, D, such as, for example, register tape to beat least partially ejectable from one or more of the first bay 4 a andthe second bay 4 b.

Referring to FIGS. 6A-6C, one or more of the first document catch member1000 a and the second document catch member 1000 b may bemoveably-disposed relative to the plurality of sidewall members 9 in a“pull and pivot” relationship. In an embodiment, the second leg 1002 bmay be longer than the first leg 1002 a; accordingly, a user may firstlypull one or more of the first and second document catch membersaccording to the direction of the arrow, X (see FIG. 6A), such that thefirst leg 1002 a is removed from a passage 1004 (see FIGS. 6B, ̂c)formed in one of the plurality of sidewall members 9 while the secondleg 1002 b is connected to one of the plurality of sidewall members 9.Subsequently, the user may rotate, according to the direction of thearrow, Y (see FIG. 6B), one or more of the first and second documentcatch members 1000 a, 1000 b about an axis, A-A, aligned with the secondleg 1002 b that is still connected to one of the plurality of sidewallmembers 9. Referring to FIG. 6C, after rotation of one or more of thefirst and second document catch members 1000 a, 1000 b according to thedirection of the arrow, Y, register tape, D, may be at least partiallyejectable from one or more of the first bay 4 a and the second bay 4 bdue to the lack of obstruction that would otherwise be provided by oneor more of the first and second document catch members 1000 a, 1000 b.

Referring to FIGS. 7A-7B, one or more document catch members are showngenerally at 1100 including a first document catch member 1100 a and asecond document catch member 1100 b. One or more of the first documentcatch member 1100 a and the second document catch member 1100 b may bemoveably-disposed relative to the plurality of sidewall members 9′ in a“pivot-only” relationship rather than a “pull and pivot” relationship asdescribed above in FIGS. 6A-6C. In an embodiment, the first leg 1102 amay include a dimension that is shorter than, but approximately equal toabout a dimension of the second leg 1102 b. Rather than arranging thefirst leg 1102 a in a passage formed in one of the plurality of sidewallmembers 9′, the first leg 1102 a may rest upon a ledge 1104 extendingfrom a side surface 1106 one of the plurality of sidewall members 9′ ofa document processor 1′; accordingly, rather than having a user firstlypull one or more of the first and second document catch members 1102 a,1102 b according to the direction of an arrow, X (as seen in FIG. 6A),the user may, in one motion, rotate, according to the direction of thearrow, Y (see FIG. 7A), one or more of the first and second documentcatch members 1100 a, 1100 b about an axis, A-A, aligned with the secondleg 1102 b that is still connected to one of the plurality of sidewallmembers 9′. Referring to FIG. 7B, after rotation of one or more of thefirst and second document catch members 1100 a, 1100 b according to thedirection of the arrow, Y, register tape, D, may be at least partiallyejectable from one or more of the first bay 4 a′ and the second bay 4 b′due to the lack of obstruction that would otherwise be provided by oneor more of the first and second document catch members 1100 a, 1100 b.

A number of implementations have been described. Nevertheless, it willbe understood that various modifications may be made without departingfrom the spirit and scope of the disclosure. Accordingly, otherimplementations are within the scope of the following claims. Forexample, the actions recited in the claims can be performed in adifferent order and still achieve desirable results.

What is claimed is:
 1. A component, comprising: a base member having anupper surface and a lower surface; a substantially tubular memberattached to and extending away from the upper surface of the basemember, wherein the substantially tubular member includes a body formedby an outer surface, an inner surface, an upper lip surface connectingthe outer surface to the inner surface, wherein the body includes athickness (T) extending between the outer surface and the inner surface,and a document landing surface connected to the inner surface, whereinthe inner surface and the document landing surface defines a cavityextending through a portion of a length (L) of the body.
 2. Thecomponent according to claim 1, wherein the body includes at least onepassage that provides access to the cavity, wherein the at least onepassage includes an upper opening formed by the connection of the upperlip surface and the inner surface, and a side slit extending through thethickness (T) of the body.
 3. The component according to claim 2,wherein approximately about ninety-percent of the inner surface of across-section of the body forms the cavity to include a circulardimension, wherein approximately about ten-percent of the inner surfaceof the cross-section of the body arcuately diverges in opposingdirections from the circular dimension to form one or more of a firstarcuate portion and a second arcuate portion to form at least a portionof the side slit extending through the thickness (T) of the body.
 4. Thecomponent according to claim 3, further comprising: a flange connectedto the first arcuate portion of the body, wherein the flange includes acurved portion and a substantially linear portion that is connected tothe curved portion, wherein the curved portion is connected to andextends away from the first arcuate portion to collectively form arounded head portion.
 5. The component according to claim 4, wherein theflange includes a flange length (L_(F)) that extends betweenapproximately about the upper lip surface and the document landingsurface.
 6. The component according to claim 3, wherein the secondarcuate portion may flares outwardly to form a curved portion, whereinthe second arcuate portion extends along the length (L) of the bodybetween the upper lip surface and the upper surface of the base memberto form an elongated stiffening rib connected to the body.
 7. Thecomponent according to claim 6, wherein the second arcuate portionflares outwardly beyond the curved portion to further include asubstantially linear portion having a first end connected to the curvedportion and a second end connected to the outer surface of thesubstantially tubular member.
 8. The component according to claim 2,wherein the side slit permits direct communication of the documentlanding surface with the outer surface, wherein the outer surface is indirect communication with the upper surface of the base member.
 9. Thecomponent according to claim 1, wherein the document landing surface iselevated away from the upper surface of the base member at a height (H)such that the document landing surface is not co-planar with the uppersurface of the base member, wherein the cavity does not extend along thelength (L) of the body.
 10. The component according to claim 1, whereinthe length (L) of the body extends between approximately about the uppersurface of the base member and the upper lip surface.
 11. The componentaccording to claim 1, wherein the cavity defines a cavity length (L_(C))extending between approximately about the upper lip surface andterminating at the document landing surface.
 12. The component accordingto claim 1, wherein the document landing surface includes a firstdocument landing surface portion, and a second document landing surfaceportion, wherein the first document landing surface portion includes acircular dimension, wherein the second document landing surface portionincludes a narrow, elongated dimension.
 13. The component according toclaim 12, wherein the second document landing surface portion isenclosed by a first guide flange, and a second guide flange, wherein thesecond document landing surface portion, the first guide flange and thesecond guide flange collectively form a narrow, elongated documentchannel having an entrance opening at a first end and an exit opening ata second end.
 14. The component according to claim 13, wherein the firstguide flange extends substantially perpendicularly from and is connectedto the upper surface of the base member, wherein the first guide flangealso extends tangentially from a portion of the outer surface of thesubstantially tubular member, wherein the second document landingsurface portion extends substantially perpendicularly from a sidewallsurface of the first guide flange, wherein the second document landingsurface portion is substantially co-planar with the first documentlanding surface portion, wherein the second guide flange extendssubstantially perpendicularly from the second document landing surfaceportion, wherein the second guide flange includes a sidewall surfacethat is opposingly-arranged with respect to, and, spaced-apart in asubstantially parallel relationship with respect to the sidewall surfaceof the first guide flange.
 15. The component according to claim 13,wherein the second document landing surface portion is substantiallyco-planar with and connected directly to and is in direct communicationwith the first document landing surface portion.
 16. The componentaccording to claim 13, wherein the first guide flange extends from aportion of the outer surface and the inner surface of the substantiallytubular member, wherein the second guide flange extends substantiallyperpendicularly from the second document landing surface portion andalso extends tangentially from a portion of the outer surface and theinner surface of the substantially tubular member.
 17. The componentaccording to claim 13, wherein the first and second guide flanges bothoriginate and extend away from about a rear edge of the base memberwhere the entrance opening is located.
 18. The component according toclaim 17, wherein the second guide flange includes a tail portion thatextends away from the rear edge of the base member.
 19. The componentaccording to claim 1, further comprising: a guide post extending awayfrom the first document landing surface portion.
 20. The componentaccording to claim 1, further comprising: an attachment member thatextends away from the upper surface of the base member.
 21. Thecomponent according to claim 1, further comprising: a rigidifying memberextending away from the lower surface of the base member.
 22. Anassembly, comprising: a document processor; the component of claim 1;and means for attaching the component to the document processor.
 23. Theassembly according to claim 22, wherein the upper surface of the basemember is disposed substantially adjacent an underside surface of a basemember portion of the document processor, wherein the document landingsurface is substantially co-planar with an upper surface of the basemember portion of the document processor.
 24. The assembly according toclaim 22, further comprising: at least one processed document-receivingbay formed by at least one sidewall of the document processor; and atleast one document catch member that is moveably-disposed relative tothe at least one sidewall member of the document processor in at least arotational relationship with respect to the at least one sidewallmember.
 25. The assembly according to claim 24, wherein a second leg ofthe at least one document catch member is shorter than a first leg ofthe at least one document catch member, wherein the at least onedocument catch member is movably-disposed in a pulling direction forremoving the second leg from a passage formed in a second sidewallmember of the at least one sidewall member prior to rotating the firstleg that is rotationally-connected to a first sidewall member of the atleast one sidewall member such that the at least one document catchmember is moveably-disposed relative to the at least one sidewall memberof the document processor in a pull relationship in addition to therotational relationship with respect to the at least one sidewallmember.
 26. The assembly according to claim 24, further comprising: aledge extending from the at least one sidewall member of the documentprocessor, wherein a second leg of the at least one document catchmember is approximately equal to about, but shorter than a first leg ofthe at least one document catch member, wherein the second leg isselectively-disposable adjacent the ledge, wherein the first leg isrotationally-connected to a first sidewall member of the at least onesidewall member such that upon rotation of the at least one documentcatch member the second leg is selectively movable away from the ledge.